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Artist: Oceana
Album: Birtheater
Label: Rise Records
Release Date: May 26, 2009
Review by: Michael Mayer III
Tracklisting:
- Breather II
- The Family Disease
- The Constrictor
- Dead Speaker
- Mother Love
- In Birth
- Boneworks
- The Abortion Plan
- BOA
- I Came as Dust, I Left as Dust
- The Spine Collection
- Devil Walk, God Walk (Heaven Walk, Hell Walk)
There is probably nothing more frustrating to me than when I listen to an album and over the course of it a band doesn’t take advantage of their strengths. It’s even worse when one of the areas I consider a weakness is the primary focus. That’s exactly how things are for me when I spin Oceana’s sophomore album, Birtheater.
The weakness I speak of is the screaming that’s featured in nearly every song. Without the lyrics in front of you it’s pretty much impossible to understand what’s being said. I can sometimes deal with that if it’s done right but that’s not the case here. Each scream has this muddy, low-key quality that sounds a lot like static or white noise, likely a production problem more than the way he’s screaming. Because of that there’s no variety in the screams and most songs tend to sound like the last. That’s never a good thing.
The tracks I love the most are the ones that use what I consider Oceana’s strengths. That would be anytime they sing and use any resemblance of melody. ‘The Family Disease’, an absolute gem of a track, is a prime example of this. The singing is so catchy and addictive that it instantly stuck in my head after the first listen. I’d even go so far as to say it’s one of the best songs of the year. The vocals are smooth and clear as they deliver the lyrics in a passionate way and they aren’t too high either. Unfortunately, only a few other songs have a good amount of catchy singing in them to help distinguish them from the rest of the album.
Lyrically, the album is rather dark with a good deal of the subject matter being about abortion and birth in some way or another. It’s not a concept album but rather a running theme across the majority of the songs. Combine that with the superb artwork and it’s certainly a redeeming quality that helps keep Birtheater from being ‘just another album’ in an over-saturated genre.
Overall: The ultimate question is whether or not the pros outweigh the cons. This definitely isn’t The Tide as far as the screaming and guitars go and that may bug some people. On the other hand, if you enjoy phenomenal singing and great melody you’ll enjoy at least half of the album with the other half being tolerable at the very least. From what I understand these guys are young and it sounds like they could be working towards something big. A few kinks just need to be ironed out in the meantime.
Gems of this album are: ‘The Family Disease’, ‘Dead Speaker’, ‘Mother Love’, ‘The Abortion Plan’
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| 03/17/2010 12:32 am | News
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Day of Fire 
Starfield 
War of Ages 
Demon Hunter 
Above The Golden State 
FFH 
Newworldson 
Wrench in the Works 
The Great Escape 
Memphis May Fire 
Face Your Giants 
Day Of My Escape 
Red Morning Voyage 
The Gun Show 
Not One Is Upright 
Meet Brett Callaway (Guitars & Vocals) of Close Your Eyes
Meet Sovereign Strength
Meet Moshe Dayan
We Came As Romans
Sean Patrick Rhorer, Director of A & R at Blood & Ink Records
This Armistice
Leroy Hamp of War of Ages
Creations
Mattie Montgomery of For Today
Vasely Sapunov of Saving Grace
The Fold
Aaron Sprinkle of Fair
Floodgates
Ryan Clark of Demon Hunter
Carlos Salazar of Before There Was Rosalyn
Laz from ALLORNOTHING
Chadwick Johnson of Hundredth
Ben Crist of The Glorious Unseen
Sons of God
Agreed, “The Family Disease” is the best track.
i like this record A TON better than the other one…
It reminds me of the whole Destroy the Runner musical shift deal…
But in this case, i like the change better.
I keep mixing this band up with the heavy death core band, OCEANO. I forget who is who.
I totally agree with Bobby… this album is miles better. I don’t think anyone could listen to this and not become pro-life. The lyrics to “The Abortion Plan” and “Dead Speaker” are almost sickening. I definitely see how some of the songs its hard to catch the lyrics when he screams, but I think this album is a definite must have.
Best song is “Dead Speaker”…
OCEANO>oceana.
“The Tide” is one of my favorite cd’s ever, I can still listen to it over and over again and it never gets old, you could feel urgency and passion in it. I was worried about the next album when I heard oceana kicked out the vocalist and the drummer was gone too, and I dont like this new stuff at all. Didnt get the cd but i listened to the myspace tracks a few times each. Disappointed :/
and these guys arent christian.
if that matters.
The deal with this disc is this: great, intriguing lyrics (perhaps concept album of the year); absolute trash music.
I have had this release for sometime and I disagree about the final rating. Although, I prefer their debut, Oceana doesn’t let me down with this sophomore attempt. Basically, I enjoyed their pro-life lyrics and the concept of the album itself. I hate when people start bashing some Rise Records bands.
Well, people don’t bash Rise Records for no reason…
lol @ john.
Oceano>>>Oceana w/o a doubt.
still like this release though…
man if you think oceano is better than oceana you are way out of line in being musically inclined, i can almost say thats not an opinion without being technical. Oceano is a total copy-cat band that feeds off of every metalcore/deathcore band out there, they all use the same exact riffs, tune down as low as possible and come up with some ridiculous breakdown and to top it off with some 808s that are easily achievable, i see no talent in that band whatsoever. It’s bands like oceana, confide (shout the truth), of machines, the color morale, agraceful, and if i had to put a metalcore band it’d have to be oh sleeper (new album), they’re keeping this music scene alive and fresh.. come on guys open your ears, get real, grow up, listen to something with meaning and maturity.
Who’s really bashing Rise Record bands here? It certainly isn’t me. Don’t get too bent up about the score too as it’s only a way to gauge where this record stands to me, the reviewer. Our ‘6′ means “Mildly entertaining’ and that’s what it is to me. Some great stuff among some downright decent songs at best. Whether or not you agree with it is another matter, but I’d say the rating shows that everyone can find something enjoyable on this release.
As to whether or not they’re Christians, at least the drummer is. It’s probably one of those cases of ‘Christians in a band’ much like some other bands we cover here (Flyleaf for starters). The concept of the album is certainly one Christians can get behind though, great stuff there.
I really liked The Tide but this release just wasn’t as good. They could have done without the screaming.
On they’re page it says “we are not a christian band” because i guess a lot of people assume they are. I know a few of them are christians, but the new vocalist cusses on stage a lot man, not cool. But im not saying he doesnt love jesus lol
wow get over it who cares if he cusses on stage, who doesn’t
Fair enough Ryan, didn’t see that or know that. Guess we’ll know that for the future then.
oh, oh! let’s talk about if you can be a christian and curse at the same time, this will be fun and original! :)
You just broke my sarcasm-o-meter Tyler. :(
Well, for all of you to think about… The singer has a lot of emotional attatchment to the topic. His mother was going to abort him, and thats what The Abortion Plan is about. I felt just like everyone else at first, I was all about the tide and i was disappointed with this new album. But as I listened, it gradually grew on me. The screaming is a lil bit monotone as well as not as dynamic as the screaming in The Tide… but the thing is, its more emotion in the sense that he is really screaming his emotions, he isnt worried about how cool it sounds. I can feel the emotion attachment to the songs, and that’s why i like the album a lot more.
I love the tide too!
Oceana just posted a bulletin titled “we are done.” I personally like this album and hope it’s just some kind of misunderstanding. They just released this.
What bulletin is that Justin? I didn’t see any blog on their Myspace or anything but I read a lot of comments from people saying they were. I might have rated Birtheater a bit harsh as it has some lasting appeal. I think that’s because of the vocal melodies and the depth in the lyrics.
It was just a bulleting titled “we are done” and then the message is “blog soon.”
That kinda sucks, I think these guys had potential for sure. Their first CD was pretty sweet and I was interested in seeing where they were gonna go in the future.
6 out of 10 is an absolute tragedy, the screaming makes sense and is incredibly ledgible at times, rather than make a rock record or make , in a sea of musical muck this album is pure gold, rather than go for a radio rock record or a breakdown-palooza they made a smart melodically brilliant record that leans on the technical side of things. my perfect way to sum this album up is that the heavy parts recall Oh, Sleeper’s “When I Am God” or Underoath’s “Lost In The Blindside’s “Silence or Dead Poetic’s “New Medicines” truly two albums we havent seen the likes of in years, 10 out of 10 for sure…. its sad they broke upas oceana they had potential beyonf their years and created a true masterpiece, they will be missed- ryan (MN)
“Melodically brilliant?” Ok, if you consider Saosin and Cry of the Afflicted melodically brilliant also.
tee bee you are a genius
i would just love to say this is my favorite album to date, unique, powerful, great theme, new drummer and vocalist are AMAZING and their new project, trome, is astounding as well
the album is their best yet definately, brennans lyrics about his inner struggle with coming to terms with being an abortion survivor are just amazing, the ambience in this album just gives me goosebumps. i honestly think oceana is the best band ever and i hope they come back asap!
This album in my opinion is amazing. The lyrics are meaningful. As far as the screaming goes, I’ve definately heard better quality but overall this album has a huge effect on me in an emotional and moving way. A lot of this albums subject matter are things that most bands don’t touch, such a controversial and touchy matter. I don’t think that a band has to be perfect on all aspects to be a good band or have a good album. Thats what music is about, not everyone will always agree on what is “good music” since everyone connects differently with certian things. It’s a pretty unique album in its on way which is a gem in the music industry. I’ve truly enjoyed this it.